Sheet-supporting device for printing-presses



E. Pl` IENNINGS.

SHEET SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24| i919.

&

INVENTOR.

E. P. JENN'INGS. SHEETVSUFIURTING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES. .A

' APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24,1919. 1,392,062. Patentdept. 27,1921.

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E. P. JENNlNGs.-

SHEET SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

kAPPLlcATIoN FILED Nov. 24. 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED' STATES PATENT oFFicE.

EMEEsoN rf. JENNINGS, 0E LEHTGHTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHEET-SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR PRINTING-PRESSES'.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, EMERSON P, JENNINGs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lehighton, in the county of Carbon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Sheet- Supporting Device for Printing-Presses, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had therein to the accompanyingl drawing.

This invention relates to a sheet supporting device for printing presses and is designed more particularly for use in connection with a sheet feeding mechanism to support the sheet in its proper position relative to the stationary member of the printing couple during the taking of the impression.

One object of the invention is to provide a device which will properly position the sheet with relation to the stationary member of the printing couple during the taking of the impression and will then be moved out of the path of the sheet to permit the latter to be moved past the same by the delivery device.

It is alsoan object of the invention to provide. such a device which will firmly hold the sheet in position during and immediately following the taking of the impression; and whichvwill be moved to its inoperative position without displacing the sheet.

It is also an object` of the invention to provide such a device with means for operating the same in timed relation to the movement of the sheet feeding mechanism.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a device which will be simple in construction and operation, and of a strong, durable character, which will not be liable to disarrangement.

@ther objects of the invention will appear as the mechanism is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, showing the invention applied to a printing press and in a position to receive the sheet; Fig.

2 is a similar view, showing the device in clamping engagement with the sheet; Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the supporting device moved into its inoperative position. Fig. 4 is the bottom plan View of the device. Figs. 5. 6 and 7 are detailed views of the supporting member, showingsame in dif- Speccaton of Letters Yatent. Patented Septt 27 1921. Application led November 24, 1919` Serial N0340,154

ferent successive positions with relation to the platen. Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the supporting members, and Fig. 9 is a detail View of a. portion of the platen.

In these drawings I liavefshown the invention as applied to a printing press equipped with a sheet feeding mechanism, similar to that shown and described in thel application for'patent filed by me March 30, 1916, Serial No. 87725, but it will be understood that the invention may be used with presses and sheet feeding .mechanisms of different kinds, and that it is not necessarily applied to the platen. In the present drawings have shown only one member of the printing couple of the press, that is, the platen l, which is normally stationary, and has its face arranged in a substantial vertical plane. Cooperating with this platen is a form bed, not here shown, which moves in right line toward and from the platen. The sheet feeding -mechanism comprises a sheet separating device, having a suction bar 2, which separates the lowerinost sheets from a pile of sheets, and moves the edge of that sheet into a position to be engaged by conveying grippers 3, which travel across the face of the platen and withdraw the sheet from the pile and move it into printing i position on the face of the platen. The sheet is retained in this position during the taking of the impression, and as the form bedk withdraws, delivery grippers 4 engage the lower edge of the sheet and withdraw the same from the platen Vacross the lower edge thereof. The various parts of the sheet feeding mechanism are shown as operated in timed relation from a shaft 5, having secured thereto a pinion 6, which meshes with a rack bar 7, which is connected with a movable part of the press, preferably the` form bed. The conveyinggrippers 3 are carried by vertically moving rackbars 8, which mesh with a gear 9 mounted on the shaft 5. The delivery grippers l are carried by swinging arms 10 secured to a shaft l1 which has secured thereto a sprocket wheel 12 which is connected Vby a sprocket chain 13 to a sprocket wheell 141 on the shaft 5. So much of the mechanism as has been described is disclosed in the application above mentioned and is here shown for the purpose of illustration only.

In 'orderto properly position a sheet on the face of the platen after it has been released by the conveying grippers and to retain it in its proper position during the taking of the impression, I have provided a suitable sheet supporting device which is of such a character and is so operated that it will be moved into the path of the sheet before the latter is released by the conveying grippers and will engage the edge of the sheet, after it has been released, to support the same in its proper position. After the conveying grippers have released the sheet and moved downwardly past the edge of the platen, the supporting device is moved into a position to engage the lower edge of the sheet in such a manner as to clamp it firmly against the face of the platen so as to hold it in position and to vprevent it from being accidentally displaced, by the pulling of the type as the form bed recedes, or for any other reason. After the form bed has receded the supporting device as a whole is withdrawn out of the path of the sheet to permit the latter to be taken by the delivery grippers and withdrawn from the platen. This device may take various forms and its movements may be accomplished in various ways but in the present construction I have shown the same as comprising a plurality of supporting members l5 which are preferably in the form of bars slidably mounted near the lower edge of the platen, or the fixed member of the printing couple. In the present instance these bars are mounted in guideways on the lower-edge of the platen, which are in the present instance formed in a downwardly projecting portion 16 of the platen which is provided with openings to receive the bars and the lower sides of which openings are closed by a bar or plate 17 secured to the lower edge of the platen. Each of the supporting members is adaptedto be moved forwardly so that it will project beyond the face of the platen into the path of the sheet as the latter is moved downwardly by the conveying grippers, and will thus engage the edge of the sheet and limit its movement with respect to the platen. yEach bar is provided with a jaw which is adapted to be moved into engagement with the lower edge of the sheet and to clamp the same against the face of the platen when rearward movement is imparted to the supporting member. To this end, the supporting member is bifurcated at its forward end, as shown at 18, and a jaw, or dog, 19, is mounted in this slot and pivotally connected with the supporting member by means of a pivot pin or pintle 2O which projects beyond one side of the supporting .member and has wound thereon a spring 21 which is connected with the pivot pin in such a manner as to move the face of the jaw toward the platen'. This movement is so limited that when the supporting member is in its forward position the face of the jaw will occupy a substantially vertical position, this being accomplished in the present instance by providing the hub of the jaw with a projection, or nose, 22, which engages a shoulder 23 formed on the supporting member at the rear end of the slot 18. The jaw projects above the upper edge of the supporting member so that it latter can move downwardly across the lower edge of the platen. To prevent any "tendency on the part of the jaw to engage the edge of the sheet as the jaw is moved over the edge of theplaten, and thus to draw the edge of the sheet about theplaten, I have made the hub of the jaw of a diameter less than the width of the supporting member so that it will lie below the upper edge of the member and will not engage the sheet when the latter rests upon the supporting member. A projection, or lip 24 extends downwardly from the platen into the slot inthe supporting member, and as rearward movement is imparted to the supporting member the face of the jaw vwill engage thelower edge of this projection 211, which lies below the edge of the sheet, and will thus be-held out of engagement with the sheet during its rearward movement.` In the construction here shown the platen proper is provided with a seconda-ry platen 25 which in turn is provided with a clamping bar 26 to secure the makeup thereon but I have herein treated the platen structure as a whole as the platen because the secondary platen and its vclamping bar are not necessary to the operation of the invention. A

Any suitable means may be provided for actuating the supporting device in tim'e'd relation with the movements of the sheet, and

its movement maybe effected by any suitable part of the press or sheet feedingmechanism. In the present construction I operate the supporting device from theshaft 1l which carries the delivery gripper-s. To this end I have connected the several supporting members or bars 15 one to tlie'other by means of'a rod "or shaft 27 which extends through the rearward ends thereof and :serves to 'cause them'toniove in unison. An operating' rod or 'plunger is slidably mounted in bearings y29 and 30 carried by the platen 1 and in the present instance formed in a bracket 31 which is rigidly secured to the lower surface of the platen shown in Fig. l.

structure.' The forward end of this plunger is bifurcatedk as shown at 32 and the arms of the bifurcation are connected with the rod 27 so that the several supporting members will move with the plunger 28. A reciprocatory movement may be imparted to the plunger in any suitable manner so long as it is properly timed with relation to the movements of the sheet and, as here shown,

the plunger is moved rearwardly by means' of a spring 33 which is coiled about the plunger between the bearing 29 and a collarv 34 rigidly secured to the plunger. Forward movement is imparted to the plunger and its rearward movement controlled by a cam 35 which is rigidly secured to the shaft 1l. ln the construction here shown bracket 3l has arms 36 extending rearwardly from the bearing 30 and embracing the shaft 11 on opposite sides of the cam 35. The rear end of the plunger 28, which is. acted upon by` the cam 35 is provided with means which will cause thev plunger to bemoved forwardly by the cam when ythe latter is rotated in one direction but will permit the cam to movepast the plunger when it is moved in the opposite direction without imparting movement to the plunger. In the present form of the device the rear end of the plunger is slotted as shown at 37 and has yieldably mounted therein a roller 33. This roller is provided with pintles 39 ei;- tending beyond the respective sides -thereoil and traveling in slots 40 which are substantially L shape in form and have their longer portions extending lengthwise to the plunger kand their shorter portions extending transversely to the plunger. The roller is held normallyy in its rearmost position by means ofa small plunger or rod 4l slidably mounted in the plunger 28 .at they forward end of the slot 37 and having a partbearing against the roller. VA spring 42 is coiled about the rod 4l between the end oi the slot'and the head of the rod and serves to press the roller toward the rear end of the plunger 28. When the cam is rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. l, that is, during the rearward movement of the delivery grippers and the down-- ward movement of the conveying grippers, the raised portion of the cam will engage the roller and move theVV same downward)1 into the recess formed by the transverse portion of the l.. shaped slot and the roller will then be heldagainst forward movement relatively to the plunger 28, `and the further movement of the cam will impart lengthwise movement to the plunger and. to the supporting members, this movement serving to cause the supporting` members to project beyond the face of the platen as Jthe cam inthe same direction will. carry the raised kportion thereof past the roller, thus The further movement of releasing the plunger 28 and permitting it to be moved rearwardly by the spring 33 a distance sulicient to cause the faces of the jaws i9 to engage the sheet and clamp the same against the face of the platen. rIhis rearward movement is limited by a stopv which is here shown as a latch 43 pivotally mounted on the bearing 30 and having its forward end arranged in the path ot a collar 44 rigidly secured to the plunger 28. The position of the raised portion on the cam is such that this rearward movement of theA plunger and the supporting members will take place afterthe sheet has been released by the conveying grippers and is in engagement with the supporting members., The plunger and the supporting members will then remain in this position duringthe talring of the impression and until the form bed has moved away from the sheet, at which time the movements of the sheet feeding mechanism will be reversed and both the conveying grippers and the delivery grippers will begin their upward movements This reversal in the direction of the move ment of the sheet feeding mechanism lalso reverses the direction of the movement oi' the cam 35 and this cam moves in the opposite direction, that is, the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3, the raised portion thereof will engage the roller 38 and move the same upwardly into line with the longitudinal portionsk of the slots 40, thereby permitting the same to move forwardly relatively to the plunger without affecting theposition of the latter and thus permit the raised portionv ofthe cani to pass the plunger without affecting its position. The cam will continue its movement in this reverse direction untilv the delivery grippers approach the position in which they receive the sheet, and at this time a shoulder or projection 45 on the cam will engage the tail 46 of the latch 43 and move the end or the latch out of the path of Vthe collar 44 on the plunger 23a thereby releasing the punger and permitting further rearward movement to be imparted thereto by the spring 33, this movement serving to move the supporting` members rearwardly beyond the face of the platen and out of the path of the sheet so that the latter can be engaged by the delivery grippers and withdrawn. After the latch 43 has been moved into an inoperative position and the delivery grippers have engaged the sheet, the movements of the sheet feed-y ingl mechanism and of the cam are again reversed. and the plunger actuated to again scription' of the severalparts thereof, and

it will be apparent that Ihave provided a device which will be automatically operated n to cause it to correctly position the `sheet with relation to the platen, by limiting the downward movement thereof, which will hold the sheet in printing position during the taking of the impression and will hold it against the pull of the type as the form bed is withdrawn, and against any other tendency to accidental displacement. `Of course, with larger sheets, suitable platen grippers are employed to retain the sheet in an operative position, but these have not been shown in the present drawings, as they are not necessary to an understanding of this invention. Further, it will be apparent that the supporting members are so constructed and operated that as they are withdrawn to the rear of the face of the platen, the jaws will be moved out of engagement with the sheet and there will be no tendency to drag the sheet about the edge of the platenor to mar the edge of the sheet. Further, it will be apparent that the operating device for the supporting members is of a simple, positively operated character comprising comparatively few parts and having these parts so arranged that they will not be readily disarranged or rendered inoperative.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details shown, as various modifications may be made by a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a normally stationary member of a printing couple, of a sheet supporting device arranged near one edge of said member, and comprising a part movable into and out of the path of said' sheet and a jaw carriedby said part and arranged to be moved into clamping engagement with a sheet upon one movement of said part and capable of movement into a position beyond the edge of said member when further movement is imparted to said art. p 2. The combination with a normally stationary member of a printing couple, of a sheet supporting device 'comprising a member slidably mounted near one edge of said stationary member and a jaw pivotally mounted on said slidable member and yieldably held in position to engage the sheet on said stationary member.

3. The combination with a normally stationary member of a printing couple, of a sheet supporting device slidably mounted beneath said platen for movement transversely to the plane thereof, a j aw pivotally mounted on said member, and a spring to hold said jaw normally in aposition to clamp-the sheet against the face of the platen and to permit said jaw to vbe moved about its axis into a position in which it will pass the edge offsaid stationary member as ysaid slidable member moves rearwardly.

4. The combination with a normally .sta-

tionary member of a printing couple, of a sheet supporting device comprising a :bar slidably mounted vbeneath said stationary member for movement transversely vto the plane thereof and a jaw pivotally mounted on said slidable member and yieldably held in a position to clamp the sheet against the face of said .stationary member, said stationary member having a part projecting beneath the lower edge of said sheet to engage said jaw and move the `same about its axis when rearward movement is imparted to said slidable member.

5. The combination with a normally stationary memberof aprinting couple, of a sheet supporting device comprising ay bar slidably mounted-near one edge of said stationary member ,for movement transversely `to `the plane thereof, and having its forward end bifurcated, a j aw pivotally mounted in thebifurcated end of said bar and having its hub portion of a diameter'less than the width of said bar, so that the sheet will be supported out of engagement with said hub portion and a part carried by said stationary member -and projecting between the arms of said bifurcation to engage said j aw and move the same out of engagement with said sheet when rearward movement is imparted to said bar.

6. The combination with a normally stationary member, ofa printing couple, of a bar slidably mounted at one edge of said stationary member for movement into and out of the path of a sheet, a jaw pivotally mounted on said bar and yieldably held in a position to clamp the sheet against the face of said stationary member, and means to rock said jaw about its axis and to hold same out of engagement with said sheet when rearward movement is imparted to said bar.l

7. The combination with a normally `stationary member of a printing couple, of a bar slidably mounted at ,one edge of said stationary member for movement transversely to the plane thereof, a jaw pivotally mounted on said bai' and yieldably held in position to engage the sheet on the face of said stationary member, and means to actuate said bar to first move the same into the path of a sheet asthe latter is moved onto said stationary member, to then move said jaw into clamping engagement with said sheet, and to then move said bar and said jaw rearwardly beyond the face of said sta tionary member.

8. The combination with a normally stationary member of a printing couple, of a bar slidably mounted at one edge of said stationary member for movement transversely to the plane thereof, a jaw pivotally iis mounted on said bar and yieldably held in position to engage the sheet on the face of said stationary member', means to actuate said bar to first move the sameinto the path of said sheetas the latter is moved onto said stationary member, to then move said jaw into clamping engagement with said sheet, and to then move said bar and said jaw rearwardly beyond the face of said stationary member, and means for holding said `iaw out of engagement with said sheet as it is moved to the rear of the face of said stationary member.

9. The combination with a normally stationary member of a printing couple, of a sheet supporting device comprising a plurality of members slidably Lmounted at one edge of said stationary member for movement transversely to the-plane thereof, and each having` a part pivotally mounted thereon and yieldably held in position to engage the sheet on the face of said stationary member, and means for actuating said slidable members in unison to lirst move them into the path of 'the sheet, to then cause said parts to engage the sheet, and to then move said slidable members and said parts rearwardly beyond the face of said stationary member.

10. The combination with a normally stationary member of a printing couple, said stationary member having gnideways eX- tending transversely to the face thereof, of bars slidably mounted in said guideways, and each having a part yieldably held in position to engage the sheet, and means for actuating said bars in unison to rst move them into the path of the sheet, to then cause said parts to engage said sheet, and to then withdraw said bar and said parts beyond the face of said stationary member.

11. The combination with a normally stationary member of a printing couple, having its face in a substantially vertical plane, of a device mounted adjacent to the lower edge of said member and movable transversely into and out of the plane of the face thereof, said device having part-s to receive and support a sheet and to press the lower edge thereof against said member, and cam controlled means to impart transverse movement to said device..

12. The combination with a normally stationary member of a printing couple, having its face in a substantially vertical plane,

of a device mounted adjacent to the lower edge of said member and movable transversely into and out of the plane of the face thereof, said device having parts to receive and support a sheet and to press the lower edge thereof against said member, a spring to move said device in one direction, and cam controlled means to move said device in the other direction.

.13.. The combination with@ normally Sta tionary member of a printing couple, of a device mounted near oneedge of said member for movement into and out of the path of a sheet, a plunger' connected with said device, and a cam to actuate said plunger,

said plunger' havinga part arranged to be engaged by said cam and to be held against movement relatively to said plunger when said cam moves in one direction, and to be moved relatively to said plunger when said cam moves in the opposite direction.

14. The combination witha normally stationary member yof a printing couple, of a device mounted near one edge of said member and movable into and out of the path v.of a sheet and comprising a part adapted gage said sheet when said device is in an intermediate position, a plunger connected with said device, a cam acting on said plunger to move said device into the path of said sheet, a spring to move said device out of the path of said sheet, and a cam controlled stop to interrupt the movement of said plunger when said device is in an intermediate position.

16. The combination with a normally stationary member of a printing couple, of a device mounted near the edge of said member, and movable into andout of the path of a sheet, and comprising a part to engage said sheet when said device is in an intermediate position, a plunger connected with said device, a cam acting on said plunger to move said device into the path of said sheet, a spring acting on said plunger to move said device out of the path of said sheet, a collar secured to said plunger, and a pivoted stop having one end adapted to engage said collar to check the movement of said plunger when said device is in an intermediate position, said stop having a portion arranged to be engaged by said cam to release said plunger.

17. A combination with a platen having guideways to the lower edge thereof, of a series of bars slidably mounted in said guideways for movement into and out of the path of a sheet, a jaw pivoted to the outer portion of each of said bars, and yleldably held in position to engage the sheet on said platen when rearward movement is imparted to said bar, a spring tending to move said bars ont of the path et Said sheet, a @am t0 move said bars into the path of said sheet, and cam controlled means to interrupt the movement of said bars with said jaws in engagement with said sheet.

18. The combination with a platen having guideways at the lower edge thereof, of a sheet supporting device comprising bars slidably mounted in said guideways for movement into and out of the path of a sheet, and each having a part yieldably held in position to engage the sheet on said platen when rearward movement is imparted to said device, a plunger connected with said device and having a slot in its rear end, the walls of said slot having grooves extending longitudinally thereto, and provided at their rear ends with transverse recesses, a roller mounted in said slot, and having pintles to travel in said grooves, a spring tending to hold said roller normally at the rear end of said slot, a cam adapted to engage said roller to move said plunger in one direction, a spring to move said plunger in the opposite direction, and a cam controlled stop te interrupt the movement of said plunger when said parts of said sheetsupporting bars are in engagement with the'sheet.

19. The combination with a platen, a shaft and delivery grippers mounted on said shaft 30 for movement toward and from the lower` edge of said platen', of a device mounted at the lower edge of said platen for movement into and out of the path of a sheet, and means carried by said shaft to control the movement of said device.

20. The combination with a platen, a shaft and delivery grippers mounted on said shaft for movement toward and from the lower edge of said platen, of a device mounted at the lower edge of said platen for movement into and out of the path of a sheet, a spring to move said device in one direetion, and a cam mounted on said shaft to move said device against the tension of said spring.

21. The combination with a normally stationary'member of a printing couple, oit a sheet supporting device comprising a member slidably mounted on said stationary member, a jaw-movably mounted on said slid-able memberand yieldably held in position to engage the sheet on said stationary member when said slidable member is in one position, and means to move said jaw out oi engagement with said sheet when said slidable member is moved rearwardly from said position. n

ln testimony whereof, I aliix my signature hereto.

EMERSON P. JENNINGS. 

